Down draft-furnace



(No Model.) v I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

S. T. BLEYER. DQWNDRAPT PURNML.y

No. 581,261. Patented Apr. 27, 1897.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

s. T BLEYEP. D OWNDRAFT FURNAUB.

No. 581,261. PatentedApi. 27,1897.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

. BLEYER.

- D0 RAPT EURNAGE. No. 581,261. Patented Apr. Z7, 1897.

UNITED STATES SAMUEL T. BLEYER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DOWN DRAFT-FU RNACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 581,261, dated April 27, 1897. Applicatieu tiled September 12, 1896. Serial No. 605,559. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL T. BLEYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Downdraft- Furnaces, of which the following is such a full, clear, and exact description as will enable any one skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

The objects of my invention'are to provide a furnace in which the heat is retained by a suitable arch or arches, thereby keeping a more uniform steam-pressure in the boiler and more thoroughly consuming the smoke, and to provide means for feeding coal to the furnace and delivering it evenly `over the grate.

My invention consists in the various novel features and details of construction described in the following specification and pointed out in the claims aifixed hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a furnace made in accordance with my invention, Figure 1 is a front elevation. Fig. 2 is a side view, partly in section. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the lower end of the feeding device. Fig. 4 is a section on theline 4 4 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a side view, partly in section, showing a modification.

Like marks of reference refer to similar parts in the several views of the drawings.

is the shell or casing of the furnace, which, as usual, is made partly of metal and partly of masonry. Within the casing 10 is a downdraft-grate 11, Fig. 2, composed of water-tubes connecting drums 12 and 13. The grate 11 in the construction shown in Fig. 2 is placed almost wholly in front of the boiler 14, which is of the type known as watertube boilers.

15 is an arch of refractory material which is placed behind the grate 11 in such a position that the heated products of combustion from the said grate must pass through it loefore they impinge upon the boiler 14. Ina small furnace only one of these arches 15 need be used, but in a large furnace I preferto use two or more. When used with the type of boiler shown in Fig. 2, the arch 15 need only extend under a portion of the length of .the boiler.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, in which a flue-boiler 16 is used in place of the water-tube boiler 14, the grate 1l is placed almost entirely under the boiler and the arch l5 extends to the rear of the boiler.

The coal-feeding device is shown in Figst 1 and 2 and in detail in Figs. 3 and 4. The coal-feeding device consists of three principal .parts-a hopper 1S in which the coal to be fed to the furnace is placed, away or pipe 19 leading from the hopper 18, and an enlarged portion or chute 20 at the lower end of the pipe 19. The chute 2O rests on water-tubes 2l above the grate 11 and connecting drums 22 and 23. In the pipe 19 are slides 24-,which are attached to a T-shaped lever 25. To the end of the lever 25 is pivoted a handle 26, which hangs down within easy reach of the ireman. In the chute 2O are a number of plates 27, Figs. 3 and 4, having their lower edges at right angles to the axes of the water-tubes 2l and inclined so as to distribute the coal evenly over the grate 1l. The axes of the tubes 21 being at right angles to the lower edges of the plates 27 the said' tubes help to scatter the coal and thus distribute it evenly over the grate like a sieve, Fig. 4.

Vhen it is desired to feed coal to the furnace, the handle 26 is raised. This forces the upper slide 24 into the pipe 19 and withdraws the lower slide. This allows the required amount of coal to fall-out of the pipe 19 into the chute 20. By the action of the plates 27 and the tubes 21 the coal is distributed evenly over the grate 1l. Thus it is not necessary for the fireman to handle the coal, and consequently he can tend several furnaces.

The heated products of combustion after passing down through the grate 11 pass through the arch or arches 15, raising it to a high temperature. The heat of the arch tends to keep the steam-pressure even when the middle or lower doors are opened for cleaning purposes, and also tends to consume any smoke which may be made by careless firing.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

IOO

1. In a fuel-feeding device for downdraftgrates, a fuel-holding Chamber, a Way or pipe leading therefrom, an enlarged portion or chute communicating with said Way, and a 5 plurality of parallel pipes or bars beneath said chute and forming the top of the fuelehamber of the furnace.

2; In a fuel-feeding' device for furnaces, a fuel-holding Chamber, a Way or pipe leading [o therefrom, an enlarged portion Communicating with said Way, delieoting-plates in said enlarged portion, and pipes or bars situated below said enlarged portion with their axes substantially at right angles to the lower edges of said deileoting-plates. 15

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed myseal in the presence of the two subscribing Witnesses.

SAMUEL T. BLEYER. [L S.] IVtnesses:

CHARLES E. BLEYER, J No. C. DRUMEN. 

